NEBA Announces Contract Renewal with First Data

WAKEFIELD, Massachusetts (January 7, 2009) – New England Bankcard Association (NEBA) today announced the renewal of their processing contract with First Data effective January 1, 2009. A member-owned and operated association comprised of banks in the U.S. and Caribbean, NEBA provides debit card, credit card and payment processing programs, products and services. Under the new contract First Data, the global leader in payment processing services, will continue to provide NEBA Members with comprehensive card and merchant processing services for an additional five-year period.

“Our partnership with First Data is indicative of NEBA’s commitment to partner with and nurture long-term relationships with the payments industry’s premier providers.,” stated Ted Keith, CEO of NEBA, “NEBA Members will benefit from this contract extension with terms that both save our members significant money over the five- year period and also provide them with a service provider who is committed to investing in technology and system features that empower.”

“This renewal demonstrates the trust that NEBA has in First Data to consistently deliver the products and services that help NEBA members maximize their card programs,” said Matt Kardell, president, First Data Financial Services Sales.  “We’re honored to continue our long-standing relationship with NEBA,” he added.

NEBA and First Data currently have a twenty-eight year continuous relationship.

About NEBA
Headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts, NEBA (New England Bankcard Association)) was founded in 1969 as one of the twelve original MasterCharge Associations. NEBA provides financial institutions in the U.S. and Caribbean a full range of high-quality credit card issuing, debit card, ATM driving, and merchant acquiring programs, products, and services, as well as the framework, support, and educational assistance banks need to operate profitable, effective programs that promote customer satisfaction and loyalty.

NEBA members have access to the best in card-processing solutions including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover cards, as well as signature and PIN-based debit cards, and gift and commercial card options. NEBA’s unique bundled programs, such as Flex for credit cards are designed to speed program implementation and minimize the need to allocate bank resources to a card program. NEBA’s bundled QuickStart program breaks credit card program entry barriers for smaller banks by allowing institutions with as little as $6 million in assets to offer a credit card program.

For more information about NEBA’s card and card processing solutions, please visit neba.com.

About First Data
First Data is a global technology leader in information commerce. The company processes transaction data of all kinds, harnesses the power of that data and delivers innovations in secure infrastructure, intelligence and insight for its customers. With operations in 37 countries, First Data serves more than 5.4 million merchant locations and more than 2,000 card issuers and their customers. It powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company's portfolio of services and solutions includes merchant transaction processing services; credit, debit, private-label, gift, payroll and other prepaid card offerings; fraud protection and authentication solutions; electronic check acceptance services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile payment solutions. The company's STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 2.2 million ATM and retail locations. Through First Data's centers of excellence, such as security, analytics, customer loyalty and mobile payments, it offers data-driven commerce solutions for customers around the globe. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.

NEBA First Data contract renewal